The Kalispell Public Schools Board of Trustees is making progress in its search for a new superintendent, as they have narrowed down the pool of applicants to four finalists. Interviews with the candidates are scheduled to take place during the week of February 5. Among the key criteria considered by the trustees were prior experience as a superintendent and effective communication skills. The four candidates who will be interviewed for the position are Kimberly Fricker, Joseph Libby, Tom Meyer, and Matt Jensen.
Trustee Sue Corrigan emphasized the importance of candidates with building-level experience, rather than only those who have worked from the top. She also stressed the need for a superintendent who can effectively communicate, as this quality was repeatedly emphasized by the candidates’ references.
During the discussion, trustees shared their top three choices, with Jensen and Meyer being unanimously selected for interviews. However, there was no consensus on the third candidate, leading the board to decide to interview all four finalists.
Matt Jensen, one of the assistant superintendents in the district since July 2021, is among the finalists. He previously served as the superintendent of Bigfork School District for seven years and holds a master’s degree in education administration.
Tom Meyer, the current superintendent of Bellevue Community School District in Bellevue, Iowa, has held the position for nine years. Meyer holds a doctorate in education with an emphasis on personalized learning.
Kimberly Fricker, who was the superintendent of the Rim of the World Unified School District in California for one year, is also a finalist for the position. Fricker holds a doctorate in urban leadership.
Joseph Libby, the superintendent of Sibley East Public Schools in Arlington, Minnesota, since 2021, rounds out the list of finalists. Libby holds a doctorate in education.
The next step in the superintendent search process involves conducting reference and background checks on the candidates.
The Montana School Boards Association was enlisted to conduct the search and received a total of seven applications, which was considered impressive by Andrew Vigeland, staff attorney for the organization.
This superintendent search was launched following the resignation of Micah Hill in 2023, as he accepted a superintendent position at Missoula County Public Schools. The board initially sought an interim superintendent for the current school year after not finding suitable candidates from the initial job posting. However, they are now optimistic about the well-qualified pool of applicants in this new round of the search.
The board’s decision-making process reflects their commitment to finding a highly experienced and effective superintendent who can lead the growing school district and effectively communicate with all stakeholders. The interviews with the four finalists will play a crucial role in determining who will ultimately be selected as the next superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools.
